Chocolate Coconut Bars

INGREDIENTS: 

Bars

* 1 cup butter

* 4 oz (1/2 cup) milk chocolate

* 1 1/2 cups sugar

* 1 1/2 cups flour

* 4 eggs

* 1/2 tsp baking soda

* 1/4 tsp salt

* 1/2 tsp coconut extract

Frosting:

* 1 cup flake coconut

* 1/2 cup unsalted butter

* 2 cups confectioners' sugar

* 1/4 tsp coconut extract

HOW TO MAKE: 

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 inch pan. To make the bars, combine butter and chocolate in a microwave-sae bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave another minute. Stir. Microwave another 30 seconds or until the mixture is smooth. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine remaining bar ingredients. Add in chocolate mixture and mix until combined. Pour into pan and bake for 30 minutes or until center is set. Let cool. 

While the bars are cooling, spread coconut flakes evenly on a baking sheet. Place into 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Stir flakes so the bottom doesn't burn and cook a few minutes more or until they are the browned color of your liking. Not every piece of coconut will be browned. Let cool. 

To make frosting, melt unsalted butter and then stir in powdered sugar until dissolved. Add in coconut extract and 2 tbsp water. Stir until it's the consistency of frosting. Spread over cooled chocolate cake and then sprinkle the browned coconut on top. 

These bars taste so much like german chocolate cake!!! I added a little more coconut extract in the frosting just because I love coconut so I wanted to make sure the flavor was there. You may also want to double the recipe of the frosting because it doesn't make that much. Otherwise, this was a very easy recipe. Enjoy!